2026 Draft Watch: Thoughts on the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game

April 9th, 2025

This time around, I took the time to watch the 2025 McDonald’s All-American game that featured two of the top prospects for the 2026 draft in Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa, in which this event took place on April 1st. It wasn’t a particularly well played game, as there were plenty of missed shots, not enough threes made, and plenty of turnovers that were committed. On the other hand, there seemed to be a lot of talented players that were able to make some solid plays in this game. To me, the standout performers of this match were Darryn Peterson and Kai Harwell. Here are my thoughts on how they and other various prospects fared in this game, and what to expect of them for next season. Also, for those that are interested in the box score of this game, here is the link.

Strong Performances (11)

Darryn Peterson scored 18 points, made a three-pointer, and had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, and Cameron Boozer had 16 points and 12 rebounds, as both players were named co-MVPs of the 2025 McDonald’s High School All-American game. (Photo: Pamela Smith/Imagn Images, via USA Today)

Kansas’ incoming 6-5 freshman guard, Darryn Peterson had a strong showing in this game, as he had 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals to help lead his team to a 105-92 win over the other team. He is a tremendously athletic guard that really excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor, and he did a great job as a playmaker, rebounder, and defender in this game.

He would often take it to the hoop to score on explosive dunks, and he showed a solid mid-range game. He is an unselfish player that can make a variety of passes and can handle the basketball, and he is a rangy defender that can cover a lot of ground. He also was able to make a three on the break. On the downside, he struggled to make threes consistently, but he showed that he can knock down a long-range shot on occasion.

Overall, Peterson played very well, and he now looks to be the favorite to be the top pick in the 2026 draft, and he is a very talented prospect that may have what it takes to develop into a superstar in the NBA in the future.

Zai Harwell scored 16 points, made 4 three-pointers, and had 4 rebounds in this game, as he was one of the best players at this event this year. (Photo: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Houston’s incoming 6-6 freshman swingman, Zai Harwell is an athletic, skilled basketball player that did a great job of making plays on both ends of the floor. He scored 16 points, made 4 threes, and had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in this game, and he looks to be one of the most skilled players in the 2026 draft.

He had a strong all-around game. Harwell is a sharpshooter that shot the ball very well, especially from downtown, and he is a superb shooter off the catch. He also was able to run in to score on an athletic tip slam to showcase his athleticism. He also is an unselfish player that will make the extra pass and is a rangy defender that can make plenty of plays on the defensive end. While he was able to get some rebounds, others grabbed far more per minute, due to vast amount of misses that took place in this game.

Overall, Zai Harwell is an athletic, sharpshooting swingman that has a strong set of all-around skills, and he could be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft, as he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Duke’s incoming 6-9 freshman forward, Cameron Boozer also had a solid showing in this game. He did a tremendous job of rebounding the basketball, and he is an athletic, energetic player that excelled as a scorer, rebounder, and defender in this game. He showed a knack for scoring on strong dunks off the dribble, and he has a crafty pump fake that he can use to draw defenders in the air.

He also showed a knack for throwing down dunks off of off-ball motion plays, and he is an active help defender that would often leap up to block and contest shots to help force misses. On the downside, he would sometimes commit careless turnovers, and he would sometimes be out of position and late on his rotations, which would put his team in compromised situations on the defensive end.

Overall, Boozer played well in this game, and he was the best rebounder in this game. He’ll still need to improve his outside shot and be a more consistent player on the floor, but his ability to make plays above the rim and grab rebounds could enable him to be a late lottery pick in the 2026 draft, and he could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

BYU’s incoming 6-9 freshman swingman, AJ Dybantsa had a solid showing in this game. He is a tremendously athletic, skilled basketball player that excelled as a scorer and defender, and he excelled at scoring on hustle plays, and he also was able to scored on a one-legged, mid-range runner. He can ably finish plays above the rim, and he also threw a behind the back pass to a teammate in transition to show off some of his passing skills.

He also did a good job of defending his man to help force misses and turnovers. On the downside, he would sometimes make careless decisions on offense, which led him to commit some turnovers. Overall, Dybantsa is a very athletic, skilled swingman that can make hustle plays to help his team on both ends of the floor, but he’ll need to improve his outside shot and take better care of the basketball. Still, he is a high upside prospect that will likely be a top 5 pick in 2026, and he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Baylor’s incoming 6-6 freshman, Tounde Yessoufou is a tremendously athletic swingman that had a solid showing to help his West team get the win in this game. He is a great athlete and would often score on fast breaks, and he would sometimes throw down highlight reel-worthy dunks in the process. He also used a spin move to score on a smooth, turnaround jumper out of the post. On the downside, he didn’t shoot the ball well from the outside.

He also passed and defended very well. He really excelled at making passes on the break, and he is a rangy defender that can cover plenty of ground to get stops for his team. He was able to get some rebounds for his team, but others grabbed a lot more rebounds due to the vast amount of misses in this game.

Overall, Yessoufou is a very talented, high upside prospect that may be one of the most athletic players heading into college basketball next year. He’ll need to improve his jump shot, but he can make a lot of plays on both sides of the ball, and he could end up being a lottery pick in 2026, as he could end up being a star player in the NBA.

Kentucky’s incoming 6-11 freshman big man, Malachi Moreno also played very well in this game. He had a strong all-around game, and he is fairly athletic, mobile big man that showed a knack for making very solid plays on both ends of the floor.

Moreno excelled as a finisher and also was able to score on a strong move out of the post. He also made a corner three to showcase his range, and he also ran the floor to score while getting fouled to showcase having above average athletic gifts. He also showed that he can ably pass out of the post. He also rebounded and the defended very well. He did a great job of blocking shots, and he also was able to swat a three-point shot to himself once.

Overall, Moreno played very well in this game, and he didn’t force up bad shots or plays on offense. He played a sound, smooth game, and he is a skilled big man that could end up being a lottery pick in the 2026 draft, as he may have the skills to end up being a solid starter in the NBA.

6-9 swingman, Nate Ament had a strong showing, and he is a skilled, mobile basketball player that did a great job of making shots, passes, and getting stops for his team when he was on the court.

He is a smooth shooter that showed a knack for making threes, and he also would drive hard to the basket to get fouled to get to the free throw line. He was able to make a variety of passes to set up plenty of scoring chances for his teammates, and he also is a rangy defender that can get stops for his team. He didn’t grab as many rebounds as expected in this game, but he still played a sound, all-around game. Overall, he played very well in this game, and he is an athletic, skilled swingman that could be a lottery pick in the 2026 draft, and he could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

Arkansas’ incoming 6-3 freshman point guard, Meleek Thomas also played well, and he is an agile, skilled playmaker that really excelled as a scorer and rebounder in this game. He did a great job of scoring and rebounding the basketball, and he also defended well. He shot the ball very well from the outside and also was an active presence defensively. He also was able to make a variety of passes, but he also threw an inaccurate lob pass that ended up getting intercepted once. Overall, Thomas is a crafty point guard that has the skills to be a first round pick in 2026, and he could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

Duke’s incoming 6-8 freshman forward, Nikolas Khamenia is an athletic, energetic player that played a sound, efficient game. He is a mobile big man that excelled at scoring on hustle plays, did a great job of passing the basketball due to possessing solid court vision, and he also rebounded the ball very well. He quietly had a solid showing overall, and he is a high-motor player that could end up being a first round pick in 2026.

Houston’s incoming 6-10 freshman big man, Chris Cenac Jr. also played well in this game. He is a skilled, mobile player that especially excelled as a rebounder, and he showed off a fairly solid mid-range and post game. He showed some ability to pass and handle the ball on the break, and he also will use his length to contest shots to get stops defensively. Overall, he is a promising prospect that could excel on both ends of the floor, but he will need to improve his outside shot, but his ability to make plays combined with his burgeoning offensive skills could enable him to be a possible first round pick in the 2026 draft.

Washington’s incoming 6-10 freshman big man, Nikola Bundalo also played well in this game. He is an athletic, energetic player that especially excelled as a scorer, rebounder, and defender, but he will need to improve his outside shot and playmaking skills. He primarily excelled at making hustle plays on both ends of the floor, and he can throw down towering dunks above the rim. Overall, he had a solid showing, and while he will need to expand his skill set offensively, he could end up being a possible first round pick either in 2026 or sometime in the future.

Mixed Bag (7)

Cincinnati’s incoming 6-7 freshman swingman, Shon Abaev was able to show some clear strengths and weaknesses in this game. He did a great job of shooting and scoring the basketball, and he is a fairly athletic player that would use his length and instincts to help his team get defensive stops. He has a smooth shooting stroke that really enables him to make shots, especially from the outside.

However, he was extremely turnover prone. He tended to over-dribble and throw hasty passes that would often lead him to commit turnovers, and he did a poor job of taking care of the basketball in this game.

Overall, Abaev is a skilled, mobile swingman and is a talented prospect that may have a lot of upside, but he’ll need to do a much better job of taking care of the basketball. Still, he is a sharpshooter that seems to have plus-level defensive skills, and he could end up going in the mid to late first round range of the 2026 draft, as he could end up being a solid player in the NBA.

USC’s incoming 6-6 freshman swingman, Alijah Arenas had his ups and downs, but he played better in the second half of this game. As he is the son of former Washington Wizards’ star guard, Gilbert Arenas, Alijah Arenas is a highly touted prospect that will be a player to watch next season.

Alijah Arenas is a fairly athletic, skilled player especially excelled as an outside shooter, and he is a smooth shooter that especially excelled at making pull-up threes. He also showed that he can score on patient, crafty drives to the hoop, and he showed that he can ably score the basketball.

On the downside, he was not able to grab a rebound in this game, and he also would tend to commit reach-in fouls defensively due to over-aggressiveness. Overall, Alijah Arenas is a skilled, promising prospect whose ability to knock down shots combined with having a solid blend of athletic gifts, skills, and upside could enable him to be a first round pick in 2026.

Louisville’s incoming 6-2 point guard, Mikel Brown Jr. was able to make some solid plays in this game. He is an athletic playmaker that was able to score on a speedy drive while getting fouled, and he also made a smooth long two from the corner. He also generally passed and handled the ball well, and he was able to make some solid defensive plays when focused.

However, he didn’t make a single three-point shot in this game, and he didn’t grab nearly as many rebounds as the other players in this game. Overall, he is a skilled player that has shown the potential to excel on both ends of the floor, and he could end up being a first round pick in 2026.

Arkansas’ 6-2 incoming freshman guard, Darius Acuff Jr. also had his ups and downs in this game. He is a fairly athletic, skilled point guard that really excelled as a playmaker, and he also played solid defense. He has very good court vision that allows him to rack up assists. He also was able to make a subtly quick move to score off the dribble. However, he struggled to make shots in this game, particularly from the outside. He’ll need to improve his outside shot, but his court vision and defensive skills could enable him to be a possible first round pick in the future, especially if he can improve that jump shot.

Duke’s incoming 6-4 freshman point guard, Cayden Boozer was able to make some very good plays in this game. He did a great job of scoring on aggressive drives to the hoop, and he generally excelled as a facilitator on the break. He also defended well, and was an active presence on that end of the floor.

However, he did not attempt a single three-point shot, and did not do a very good job of rebounding the basketball. He also only looked to be an above average athlete, but he didn’t seem nearly as athletic as the other players on the floor. Still, Cayden Boozer had a decent showing overall, and he is a second round prospect that could project to be a game-managing, backup point guard in the NBA.

Notre Dame’s incoming 6-7 freshman swingman, Jalen Haralson had his ups and downs in this game. He is a fairly athletic, skilled player that really excelled as a playmaker, rebounder, and defender. He also excelled at scoring on hustle plays. However, he didn’t shoot well from the outside, and sometimes he would make careless mistakes on offense that would lead him to commit turnovers. Overall, he is a second round prospect in which if he hones and develops his game, he could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level someday.

Michigan’s incoming 6-4 guard, Trey McKenney had his ups and downs, but he is a fairly athletic, energetic guard that really excelled at making plays on the defensive end to get stops for his team. He did a great job of defending on the court, and he is a rangy defener that projects into a defensive stopper role at the NBA level.

On the other hand, he didn’t shoot well and wasn’t too noticeable as a playmaker, either. On the plus side, he was able to make an open corner three off the catch. However, he wasn’t able to make shots consistently. Overall, he is an intriguing prospect that could be a player to watch in the future, and he could project to be a solid role player in the NBA.

Lackluster Performances (5)

North Carolina’s incoming 6-9 freshman forward, Caleb Wilson is an athletic, energetic player that really excelled as a rebounder and defender, but he really struggled offensively in this game. He didn’t shoot well at all, and he missed some easy shots around the basket. He was able to throw an accurate long pass to find a teammate on the break to notch an assist, and he can handle the ball in the open floor, but he also would commit careless turnovers on offense.

On the bright side, he rebounded and defended very well, and he is a rangy defender that can cover plenty of ground to get stops for his team. Overall, Wilson is a long, athletic combo forward that may have a lot of upside, but he’ll need to improve his skill level on offense considerably. Still, if he can make that adjustment, he could end up being a first round pick in the 2026 draft.

UConn’s incoming 6-5 freshman guard, Darius Adams is a fairly athletic, skilled combo guard that struggled to make an impression in this game. On one hand, he rebounded very well, and he is an unselfish player that will look to find open shooters.

However, he didn’t shoot the ball well, and he also was rather turnover prone. Still, he is a tall, ball-handling playmaker that could be an intriguing prospect if he improves his jump shot, and he could project to go in the late first to the second round range either in 2026 or in a future draft.

UConn’s incoming 7-0 freshman center, Eric Reibe didn’t play very well in limited minutes, and he didn’t make much of an impression in this game. For the positives, he defended fairly well, and he will use his length to help his team get stops. He also was able to contort his body and draw free throws on a fadeaway mid-range jumper when driving to the hoop once, and Reibe already has shown the potential to be a tremendous free throw generator for higher levels. However, he also missed both of his free throws, and he was held scoreless in this game.

He didn’t shoot the ball very well, and he wasn’t very noticeable as a playmaker, either. He also was called for fouling an opponent on a mid-range shot. In addition, he may only be an average athlete. Overall, Reibe didn’t have a great game, but he is a skilled big man that projects to be a second round prospect for the 2026 draft. He’ll need to improve his skill level offensively, but his burgeoning ability to create his own shot and draw free throws could be something to watch for in the future.

UConn’s incoming 6-5 freshman guard, Braylon Mullins didn’t make much of an impression in this game, and he didn’t seem to play much. He did seem to show some offensive skills in the limited time he was on the floor. He managed to score on a fadeaway jumper off the dribble. He would’ve scored on a corner three, but he was called for stepping out of bounds before that, so that shot didn’t count. He also ran back to intercept a pass to get a steal.

Though he played fairly solid defense, Mullins didn’t make enough plays to stand out in this game, and he may only be an average athlete. Overall, he didn’t get enough playing time to make a lasting impression on the floor, but he is a skilled swingman that projects to be a second round prospect for the 2026 draft, as he could comfortably project well into a 3 and D role in the NBA.

6-4 guard, Brayden Burries is a fairly athletic, combo guard that really rebounded and defended well, but he really struggled offensively. On the bright side, he can make hustle plays on both ends of the floor, and he also showed the ability to score off the dribble, and he also ran the floor to score on a high-flying dunk in this game. He also was able o make some drive and kick passes. However, he didn’t shoot well from the outside, and he would throw hasty, inaccurate passes that would lead to turnovers. Overall, Burries is an agile, skilled combo guard that can make plays on both ends of the floor, but he’ll need to improve his jump shot, and he is a second round prospect for the 2026 draft.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Peterson, Harwell, Cameron Boozer, Dybantsa, and other various players fared in this game. Thanks for reading.